Igniter element



Marchlg, 1935. T M, GIBSON l 1,994,390

IGNITER ELEMENT Filed Sept. 22, 1934 Imagen/for.'

Patented Mas-12, V193s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IGMTER ELEMENT Application September 22, 1934, Serial No. 745,159

" Claims.

The igniter element of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with flaming lighters which employ a catalyst. In such devices generally there is a catalyst so placed 5 that the fuel vapor mixing with theair may be caused to ignite by the catalyst. y

For this purpose there has been used a support or base associated with a saturated wick. Carried by the support or base may -be a strand or group of platinum wire carrying aV small mass o f some such material as platinum black. The assembly acts by a catalytic action upon the fuel fumes and air.

I-Ieretofore no particular attention seemsV to have been paid to the character of platinum wire employed it having been usual to employ ordinary platinum wire of circular cross section. A feature of the present invention involves employing platinum wire of a selected shape or shapes which may be of any preferable size or proportions.

In the accompanying, drawing Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic transverse s vertical section of a lighter with which may be employed igniter elements embodying the present invention. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are cross sectional views of specilic forms of elements embodying the invention. Y

In Fig. 1 is shown a case 1,0 in the lower part of which may be placed a combustible fluid such as 30 alcohol or the like. Extending upward from the fluid chamber may be a wick 11 to lead the fluid to the upper part Vof the chamber. Supported above the fluid chamber may be a diaphragm 12 carrying an upwardly extending support 13 from which may depend wires or igniter elements 14 associated with a small mass 15 of appropriate catalytic material such as platinum black. Such a device will operate when the wires or igniter 45 aspect contemplates employing a more or less flat This is not essential to the present in.

platinum strip. The exact size and proportions of such strip are not essential to the present invention but the use Yof a strip such as illustrated in Fig. 2 which may have a thickness of from .001 to .0905 of an inch and a width of from .001 to .004 5 of an inch may be especially desirable in some installations. These sizes are given not as limitations on the invention but as a specific disclosure of one embodiment thereof. In Fig. 2 is shown a strip embodying the invention having a substantially rectangular cross section. In Fig. 3 is shown a strip embodying the invention having flat sides and curvilinear ends or edges. Fig. 4 shows another form in which the invention may be embodied and in which the strip is somewhat thicker in proportion to its length but has sharpened or angular edges. Y Y

It has been found that the use of such a strip gives a greater chemical activity. This may be because such strips as are illustrated expose a greater surface in proportion to their cross sectional area than do ordinary circular wires. Wire or strips in the forms illustrated seem to be considerably stronger than the usual circular wires and the life of theelement is also materially increased. It may be that the greater activity of the catalyst is due in part at least tothe sharp corners exposed by the non-circular strip.

Other forms, shapes, sizes and arrangements of igniting elements may be employed in embodi' 30 ments of the present invention. Y

I claim as my invention:

l. An igniter element comprising a filament having a cross section larger in one dimension than in the other. l

2. An igniter element comprising a filament having a crossl section having angles at its edges.

3. An igniter element comprising a filament having a cross section larger in one direction than in the other and having angles at its edges.

4. An igniter element comprising a iiat filament.

5. An igniter element comprising a lament having a cross section larger in one dimension than in the other and having curved sides.

THOMAS M. GIBSON. 

